In no particular order, here are my top nonfiction reads this year, my personal best of the best. Not all published in 2016.
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The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction by Neil Gaiman

The first Neil Gaiman books I've read that lived up to all the hype for me. He's such a great public speaker, clever and entertaining. I loved every piece in the collection, even those on topics that I wasn't previously interested in.

1 / 8

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

This was amazing as both a memoir and as a book about the science of plants. Incredibly well written and engaging. The most accurate representation of doing science that I've read to date.

2 / 8

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Definitely a book you should read before seeing the movie! Engaging, well written, clearly explained, inspiring.

3 / 8

Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond by Sonia Shah

I couldn't ask for more than from my nonfiction than thisengagingly told story with its mix of history, science, and important predictions about the future of medicine.

4 / 8

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

This was an amazing mix of clear, informative journalism and moving, emotional memoir.

5 / 8

Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman

I loved the personal stories, fascinating science, and engaging writing in this book. It also had a profound impact on how I view autism.

6 / 8

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

The author skillfully wove together his personal story, the main story of one man on death row, and a number of smaller stories that were each representative of specific problems with the criminal justice system. Another book that profoundly changed my view of the world.

7 / 8

Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality by Debbie Cenziper

This was both a beautiful, emotional love story and a fantastic personal look at a defining moment in American history.